Resources for Undocumented Students

Are you an undocumented student?

The Student Counseling Service at Texas A&M University welcomes you! We are looking forward to assisting you in meeting your academic, career, and personal needs as you adjust to college life and pursue your educational goals.

Below you will find information and resources that may be helpful as you transition into college life. Whether you are just beginning your college career or are about to graduate, there is usually a significant amount of stress in adapting to a university experience. This transition can lead to several challenges, including academic, social, physical, financial, emotional, and relational.

Counseling may not be something you are familiar with, may have hesitations about, or may have not been part of your cultural upbringing. Yet it can be valuable to your university experience in many ways. Meeting with a counselor the first time can help you understand how the challenges of being an undocumented student may be affecting your well-being or functioning. Together, you and your counselor can begin to look at a plan for your emotional care.

Counselors at the Student Counseling Service are equipped to support undocumented students with concerns such as:

Stressors associated with citizenship status

Impact of status on sense of security

Your feelings about your status

Your “coming out’ process and decisions related to who to trust

Difficult adjustment to the university environment

Uncertainty about your major or future

Excessive worry or inability to concentrate

Difficulty with sleep

Relationship problems

Family concerns

Low mood or depression

Couples therapy (if both partners are current TAMU students)

Sexual orientation or gender identity/ expression concerns

Overall health and wellness

Services We Provide:

Individual Personal Counseling: Facilitate self-discovery, self-confidence, improve relationships and achieve educational goals. Get help making good decisions for emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being. Couples therapy is also available.

Career Counseling: Increase awareness of interests, abilities, values, and personality characteristics as they apply to the workplace and explore possible majors of study. Consider the impact of citizenship status and/ or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) approval on career goals.

First Generation College Students: This group is for students who are the first in their immediate family to attend college. It provides support, understanding, and helpful suggestions to assist students deal with the personal, social, familial, financial, and academic challenges unique to first generation college students. Group availability varies be semester. Please contact us to express interest.

International Student Discussion Group: This group is for students who identify as an international student or who may relate to the experience of being an international student. It provides support, understanding, and suggestions from other international students. Members can share learning experiences and resources, and connect with others from around the world. Group availability varies be semester. Please contact us to express interest.

Crisis Intervention: During office hours, walk to the SCS at Student Services @ White Creek, or take bus route #3, across from the White Creek Apartments, if you need to speak to someone urgently. After 4:00 p.m. and on weekends, call the SCS HelpLine at 979.845.2700.